Follow Up During a Job Search After a Telephone Contact
Letter #1
Thank you for explaining your need for an experienced editor on your staff. As I indicated on the phone, I am very interested in the position. I have gained very valuable experience editing a campus paper, and have further sharpened my skills during these past two years as Chief Editor for the Doe Magazine. It would be a pleasure to serve on your editing staff. If the opportunity is still available, would appreciate a chance to discuss it with you in an interview. I can be reached at home at 555-5555 or at work at 555-5555. I hope to hear from you soon.
Letter #2
I appreciated your willingness to speak with me on the phone yesterday. Since learning of your need for a customer service representative, I have been eager to apply for the position. I have enclosed a copy of my resume, complete with references. As you will see, I have the training and experience that you require for the support team. I would like to continue our telephone conversation in person, and can be reached for an interview, if you wish, at 555-5555. You may call at your convenience since my phone is equipped with voice mail. I hope to hear from you soon.
Letter #3
I appreciated your telephone call yesterday informing me of a new opening in your marketing division. As my resume indicates, I have had extensive experience during the past eight years as the Director of Marketing for Doe Corporation, where I gained my ability to successfully market your products throughout Northern Europe. I speak the primary languages of concern, and have established many valuable contacts there. I would be pleased to have an interview with you. I may be reached by phone at 555-5555. It would be an honor to associate with your firm.
Letter #4
As you may recall, I phoned you last week about the assistant manager position Doe has available. Enclosed is a copy of my resume which indicates my prior managerial experience. Currently, I manage the schedules and shifts of fifteen employees, so I am well-suited for the type of work Doe is advertising. May we schedule a time when we can discuss my qualifications further? Please call me at 555-5555 to arrange a date. Thank you for considering me for the position.
Letter #5
I was very pleased with our telephone conversation regarding the technical editor position you have open. Thank you for agreeing to read my resume, which I have enclosed. I am confident you will find my qualifications exceptional and my requirements modest. Furthermore, as our interview will reveal, I will make a very personable and flexible addition to the office. I shall call you before the weekend to arrange an interview if you indicate this is convenient. I very much admire your operation and am hopeful we can find a way to work together.
How to Write this Follow-Up Letter: Expert Tips and Guidelines
Write this letter within a day or two of the telephone contact, with the primary goal of obtaining an interview or face-to-face meeting.
Steps
- Remind the recipient of the telephone contact, expressing gratitude as appropriate.
- State why you are suitable for the position.
- Request an interview or meeting.
- Close, if desired, with an additional positive statement.
Write Your follow-Up in Minutes: Easy Step-by-Step Guide with Sample Sentences and Phrases
1 Remind the recipient of the telephone contact, expressing gratitude as appropriate.
Sample Sentences for Step 1
- I appreciate the time you gave me yesterday to discuss the new position at Doe Corporation.
- Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions about the position at Doe Corporation.
- As we agreed in yesterday's conversation, I am enclosing a copy of my resume.
- In response to our telephone conversation of May 16, here is an updated copy of my resume.
- This letter is in response to your ad in The Springfield Gazette, and to our phone conversation this morning.
- During our telephone conversation yesterday afternoon, you offered to forward my resume to your Springfield office. Here is an updated copy that I would appreciate you sending. Thank you very much for your help.
- Thank you for describing the opening in your catering department at Doe Foods. I believe I can be of value to you.
Key Phrases for Step 1
- am enclosing a copy of my resume
- appreciate the time you gave me on Friday
- as per my telephone conversation with
- as we agreed in our conversation
- as you requested
- as you will recall
- believe that I can be of value to you
- for explaining the opening in your firm
- have completed my degree in
- have enclosed a copy of a letter of recommendation
- have enclosed my resume
- here is an updated copy
- in reference to our telephone conversation
- in response to our telephone discussion
- spoke about my qualifications
- tell you a little about myself
- thank you for taking the time to answer my questions about the position
- this letter confirms our meeting on
- this letter is in response to your ad
2 State why you are suitable for the position.
Sample Sentences for Step 2
- As you will see from the enclosed resume, I have had considerable experience in production management. I believe I can make a significant contribution to the smooth running of your plant.
- As my resume shows, I have an excellent track record in working with subcontractors, and have consistently completed my projects on time and within the agreed-upon budget.
- As my career background and references show, I am meticulous and have a talent for anticipating and overcoming unforeseen difficulties.
- Since our conversation, I have completed my MFA and have designed logos for the following companies:
- My background includes three years of sales experience, during which time I more than doubled the annual sales in both of the areas to which I was assigned.
- You will see from the enclosed resume that I have many business contacts in the Rocky Mountain region, a network that would be of considerable value to your marketing efforts.
- You asked about my experience with computers. I am familiar with office suite applications in both the IBM and Macintosh operating systems. I also teach an evening class in word processing at our local community college.
- I am looking for a position that will offer both challenges and long-range career prospects.
Key Phrases for Step 2
- a network of relationships which would be valuable to
- am an articulate and bright professional
- am meticulous
- am a fanatic for attention to detail and excellence
- am confident that I can make similar contributions to
- am familiar with
- as my academic and career background reveal
- as my career background and references show
- as my resume shows in detail
- as is evident from my resume
- as you requested
- as you will see from the enclosed resume
- asked about my experience
- believe I can help you
- believe I can contribute a great deal to your firm
- believe I can make a significant contribution
- have had considerable experience
- have many business contacts in this area
- have an excellent track record
- have completed my degree
- have some excellent experience
- have had experience working with
- long-range career prospects
- my experience is directly related to the experience you require
- my background includes experience with
- my educational background provides a strong foundation
- my experiences as a receptionist are readily transferable
- my background includes
- offer nearly two years experience
- opportunity with potential
- present myself well
- since our previous conversation
- since we last spoke
- teach an evening class at our local community college
- that special position which
- will find an outline resume
- will offer a challenge and a career
- would really like to get back to a corporate environment
3 Request an interview or meeting.
Sample Sentences for Step 3
- May I suggest a personal interview to discuss your needs and my qualifications in more detail? You can reach me at 555-5555.
- I realize how hard it can be to use a resume to judge a person's suitability for a particular position. I will be in Springfield next week and will call you to see if we might schedule a meeting.
- I will call you on Wednesday, June 21, to see if we can meet for further discussion.
- I am planning to make a move at the end of September, after I complete all my current projects. Please let me know when we might meet to discuss your needs.
- I will call you next week to find out when we might get together to discuss this matter further.
- You can reach me at 555-5555. I am interested in meeting with you to discuss what possibilities exist for us to work together.
- Resumes are of necessity brief and incomplete. I would be happy to meet with you or your clients to discuss how I can be of service.
- I look forward to continuing our telephone conversation in person.
- I would like to meet with you and show you some of the training materials I have developed.
Key Phrases for Step 3
- am interested in meeting with you
- arrange a mutually convenient time to meet
- can reached me directly at
- can reach me at
- decide when we might get together
- discuss what possibilities exist
- discuss how I can be of service to you
- discussion what possibilities exist
- find out when we might get together to discuss
- how I can contribute to your company
- if you have any questions
- let me know when we can meet to discuss your needs
- letters and resumes are not entirely satisfactory
- like to meet you
- look forward to continuing our telephone conversation in person
- please call me at my home, at 555-5555, or my work at
- resumes and letters cannot, by their nature, tell the entire story
- see if we can meet for further discussion
- set an appointment for further discussion
- suggest a personal interview to discuss your needs and my qualifications
- will call you to see if we might schedule a meeting at that time
- will be in Springfield on
- will contact you in the near future
- will be happy to discuss with you
- will be in your area
- would like to meet with you to discuss
- would welcome the opportunity to discuss
4 Close, if desired, with an additional positive statement.
Sample Sentences for Step 4
- I admire Doe Corporation for its excellent products and outstanding customer service, and I would be happy to be associated with your company.
- I would be very pleased to lend my skills to a company of Doe's stature.
- Thank you for your consideration.
- Thank you for your time and consideration.
- I look forward to hearing from you.
Key Phrases for Step 4
- admire Doe Corporation for its excellence
- for your time in considering me for the position
- for your time and consideration
- for working out this time for us to meet
- happy to be associated with your organization
- look forward to hearing from you
- look forward to our meeting
- look forward to meeting with you
- thank you for your interest
- thank you for your flexibility
- thanks again
- to hear from you in the near future
- would consider it a tremendous opportunity
- would be very pleased to lend my skills to a company of this stature
